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Monday, February 21, 2011
Half In Love: On Depression
I am honored to be one of the fifteen bloggers invited by Clever Girls Collective to talk about the memoir Half in Love: (Surviving the Legacy of Suicide) by Linda Gray Sexton.
Some notable statistics from the book:
That someone commits suicide every 17 minutes in the U.S.;
That 90% of suicides are committed by someone suffering from a mental illness;
And that mood disorders are actual medical conditions, just like diabetes or heart disease.
But what struck me the most was this stat:
That 50% of wives caring for a depressed husband will develop depression themselves.
Wow. Proof positive that depression affects everyone involved, huh?
Linda Gray Sexton was no different. Her mother, an accomplished poet, killed herself when Linda was 21 years old. And what follows for Linda is a life's journey faced with struggling to fight her genetic predisposition and not follow her mother's chosen path of death over life.
Yet Linda gives in to the urge to end her torment and pain with multiple suicide attempts. In Half in Love, Linda Gray Sexton chronicles her journey. It's a deeply moving account of ending the cycle of suicide in one's heritage.
Look, we all have bad days, right? Hell, living here in New England, where it's bleak and gray and the sun's rays are a rare occurrence for about 5 winter months, it's hard NOT to get down.
I absolutely used to DREAD the fall. Because it just meant that winter was around the corner.
But that was before I was medicated.
Now? I know it will get better. Time marches on. Seasons change. I make the best of what I've got (albeit with some bitching and complaining still thrown in for good measure, don't get me wrong!)
In the fall of 2005, I knew I needed to get help. Things were BAD in the Trenches. I was home with a 3-1/2 year old, a 1 year old, and a newborn. Totally outnumbered and overwhelmed. Vacillating between crying and being ANGRY and feeling nothing else.
Of course I loved my children. Of course I loved my husband. But man, did my life feel bleak.
A good day was making it until Hubby got home before having my first glass of wine. A bad day meant that I was already on glass #2 by the time he walked in the door. And he knew.
He would walk in the door and I would immediately be pissed at him. Pissed that I had been home alone all day with the boyz. Pissed that he got to go to work and escape the chaos. Pissed that I felt pissed in the first place.
Hubby felt constantly attacked. He definitely walked on eggshells for those months. Never knowing if what he said was going to make me bitch at him or cause me to break down in tears. He certainly bore the brunt of my misery. And asked me time and time again, "What do you need me to do?" "How can I make you feel better?" But no matter what, he could never do the right thing. I regret putting him through that pain and uncertainty. Where had his wife gone?
A long weekend away with my girlfriends that fall was when something clicked. It was when I came to the horrific realization that I wasn't looking forward to going back home to my Trenches. What kind of mother doesn't miss her family? What kind of mother dreads returning to her life? Who was I? I had become unrecognizable to myself.
I made the call to my doctor's office that week. And sat there in her office, bawling my eyes out as I relayed to her my feelings of simply feeling overwhelmed every.single.second of my days. What was my problem?!
It honestly never even occurred to me that I could have postpartum depression. Wasn't that something that happened right after you gave birth? I was FINE all that summer. But looking back, I realize now that it was because my mom was there. Once she left, I was on my own to juggle the boyz and the house. It was a good day if I managed to remember to brush my own goddamn teeth.
Postpartum depression or anxiety can, in fact, occur up to 12 months after giving birth.
I was given a prescription for the antidepressant Celexa. It took 2 weeks to take effect. But once it did? I was changed. For the better. My feelings of constantly being overwhelmed dissipated.
And life has marched on.
It's over 5 years later from that time. And I still take my Celexa daily. And probably always will.
Thank you to award-winning author Linda Gray Sexton for sponsoring this series, which is inspired by her memoir Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide.
I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective which endorses Blog With Integrity.
To learn more about Linda Gray Sexton and her writing, please visit her website.
7 comments:
- Candace McClintick said...
I think a lot of us have been there. me included. thanks for sharing 'real' motherhood. :)
- amanda said...
i hope this doesn't sound dumb - but i am proud of you. proud of you for going in and saying you needed help. it's a big step. and so not an easy step.
and ps - totally random and unrelated. BUT we were out for lunch today and three boys in ball caps were getting drinks in front of me. i so thought of you. i swear they were your three. only they weren't. they were actually an old babysitter of mines boys. and not nearly as cute (or sweet) as yours.
- Jenna said...
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing a part of your story. It certainly resonates with me, and you did a great job describing what living with someone in that place is like. It took me a long time to get help, but I will never be sorry. Again, thank you for your words. You validated me, and will probably validate and encourage a lot of others with your words.
- molly said...
Visiting you as I was also one of the 15 bloggers chosen for this series.
Thank you for sharing the statistics as well as a part of your story. The book was amazing, wasn't it?
- Unknown said...
You are such a wonderful,strong woman and for you to have the courage to put yourself out there to talk about this subject that for so many(including myself)is so difficult...I AM SURE that you have helped so many people in ways that you don't even realize! You are an inspiration. Thank you for being you! (I hope this isn't to corny! LOL!)
- Katherine at Postpartum Progress said...
Thanks for writing this Sarah and for being so open about your experience with PPD. Much love.
- Poker Chick said...
THANK you for sharing that story. Not enough of us talk about it and I think if more people did, the number of cases that end tragically would be far, far fewer.


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Rashied Davis kept repeating his opinion.
His wink-wink facial expression also made it evident he knew no one would believe him.
"If I was the other team," he said, "I'd kick the ball to Devin Hester."
Rashied Davis kept repeating his opinion. His wink-wink facial expression also made it evident he knew no one would believe him. "If I was the other team," he said, "I'd kick the ball to Devin Hester." Why not? Then the Chicago Bears would have a better chance to score immediately. Just ask the Denver Broncos, against whom Hester returned punt and kickoff returns to earn his third NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also won in Weeks Two and Six. Some teams purposely have kicked to Hester; some purposely have avoided him. Either way, Chicago has ended up with good field position. Sometimes Davis fields the shorter kicks; sometimes it's rookie Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois. "I've been close, and getting closer and closer," Davis said of breaking a long return himself. "We'll see. Hopefully, they'll kick it to Devin." What teams elect to do each week becomes a story of its own. Denver thought it could contain Hester, and couldn't. Oakland also kicked to him but had success. The New York Giants are undecided what they'll do Sunday at Soldier Field. ``Well, we'll see," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "I think everybody knows the quality of the return man and he's exceptional. It's just a question of whether you want to take it at the 40 by kicking it out of bounds, or what are you going to do? You got to roll the dice.'' Bears coach Lovie Smith just keeps sending Hester out on the field -- that's a no-brainer. "He's had so many big plays, we've used all of the words to describe him," he said. "His plays, what his place will be in history as a returner, I think he should be talked about under those type terms." Davis took one more shot at talking teams into challenging Hester. "Because he puts his pants on just like we put our pants on," he said. "So I would kick the ball to Devin Hester. Give the man a chance to break some records." Stakes Stay High The 5-6 Bears know Sunday's game with the 7-4 Giants basically is do or die. "We know what the stakes are," defensive tackle Darwin Walker said. "Every week we have to go out and play as hard as we can. That's what everybody should expect." Said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye: "Our backs are against the wall, but it's still fun. You can only have fun. It is a job, but you have to go out there and have a good time." Rookie tight end Greg Olsen has caught on to the game's importance. "It makes it a lot of fun. Each game there's a lot on the line," he said. "It kind of has that playoff atmosphere, the fact that you've got to win or it's going to be pretty tough." Taking A Pass Tonight Will the Bears watch tonight's Green Bay-Dallas game on the NFL Network? "What game?" said receiver Mike Hass. He doesn't have the NFL Network, but said "it would be fun to watch." Special teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo would have watched the game -- if the network hadn't disappeared from his cable. "That definitely will be a good game," he said. Injury Report Four Bears sat out Wednesday -- LB Lance Briggs (hamstring), DT Tommie Harris (knee), returner Devin Hester (foot) and OT Fred Miller (ankle). Corner Nathan Vasher (groin) was limited. "We should be in good shape this weekend," Lovie Smith said. Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nasdaq defends $62 million Facebook payoutSeptember 20, 2012: 2:17 PM ET
Nasdaq defended its proposed $62 million compensation plan for firms hurt by its botched IPO of Facebook (FB).
In a letter sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission late Wednesday, Nasdaq (NDAQ) called the payout "fair and equitable."
The exchange operator told the SEC that, by law, it only owes trading firms, or so-called market makers, $500,000 based on SEC limits. "The proposed accommodation pool goes well beyond what is required under current Nasdaq rules and specifically prioritizes the compensation of investors," Nasdaq's senior vice president, Joan Conley, wrote in the letter.
Related: Nasdaq can't shake Facebook troubles
Nasdaq originally offered $40 million in June, but a month later, it raised the payout to the current $62 million, which Nasdaq CEO Bob Greifeld called "definitive." At the time, customers publicly excoriated Greifeld and Nasdaq for under-compensating investors.
In late August, both Citigroup (C) and UBS (UBS) outlined objections to the plan, as did lawyers for both retail investors and proprietary trading firms.
But most eventually came around. Nasdaq said in its letter that the "vast majority of its 560 members have raised no objections to the plan.
Even Knight Capital Group (KCG) -- one of the most vocal opponents -- and Citadel changed their tune.
Knight, of course, ran into own trading glitches in early August. Some in the industry have called Knight's own nearly fatal technical glitches karmically-induced (Knight CEO Tom Joyce was Nasdaq's most vocal and persistent critic).
Related: Facebook is up 30%, but still risky
Nasdaq's stock regained all the ground it lost in the wake of Facebook's botched debut. Facebook, however, hasn't been as lucky. Despite a recent rally, Facebook's shares are still down 40% from its IPO price.


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Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). It's caused by damage to brain tissue, which occurs because of decreased blood flow. Blood flow to brain tissue may be completely blocked by a clot in a blood vessel, or blood flow may be decreased but not completely blocked by a partial blockage in blood vessels in the brain.
VaD may develop gradually, or it may become apparent after a stroke or after undergoing major surgery, such as heart bypass surgery or abdominal surgery.
Facts about VaD
Dementia and other related diseases and conditions are difficult to distinguish because they share similar signs and symptoms. Although VaD is caused by problems with blood flow to the brain, this blood flow problem can happen in different ways. So, different types of VaD are based on how each type occurs:
Mixed dementia. In some cases, symptoms of both VaD and AD exist. When mixed dementia occurs, however, it is generally considered to be a form of dementia with some characteristics of AD, rather than a case of AD with characteristics of VaD.
Multi-infarct dementia. This occurs after several small, often "silent," blockages repeatedly affect blood flow to a certain area of the brain. The changes that occur after each blockage may not be apparent, but over time, the combined effect begins to cause symptoms of impairment. Multi-infarct dementia is also called vascular cognitive impairment.
Men, especially those younger than 75, are affected by VaD more often than women.
Researchers think that VaD will become more common in the next few decades because:
VaD is generally caused by conditions that occur most often in older people, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart disease, and stroke.
The number of people older than 65 years is increasing.
People are living longer with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Causes of VaD
VaD is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. Blood flow to a certain part of the brain may be decreased or interrupted by:
Blood clots
Bleeding because of a ruptured blood vessel
Damage to a blood vessel from atherosclerosis, infection, or other causes, such as an autoimmune disorder
The effect of decreased or no blood flow depends on the size and location of the area affected. If a very small area in a part of the brain that controls memory is affected, for example, you may experience "forgetfulness" that doesn't necessarily change your ability to carry on normal activities. If a larger area is affected, you may have difficulty thinking clearly or solving problems, or greater memory problems that do change your ability to function normally.
CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with sub-cortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is a genetic disorder that generally leads to dementia of the vascular type. One parent with the gene for CADASIL passes it on to a child, which makes it an autosomal-dominant inheritance disorder. It affects the blood vessels in the white matter of the brain. Symptoms, such as migraine headaches, seizures, and severe depression, generally begin when a person is in his or her mid-30s; however, symptoms may not appear until later in life.
Risk factors for VaD
Risk factors for vascular dementia include risk factors for the conditions associated with VaD, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and atherosclerosis:
Increasing age
High blood pressure
Cigarette smoking
High cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Atrial fibrillation (fast and irregular rate of the upper two heart chambers)
High level of homocysteine in the blood, which can cause damage to blood vessels, heart disease, and blood clots
Lack of physical activity
Overweight or obesity
Oral contraceptive use
Conditions that cause the blood to "thicken" or clot more easily
Family history of dementia
Family history of CADASIL
Signs and symptoms of VaD
The symptoms of VaD depend on the location and amount of brain tissue involved. VaD symptoms may appear suddenly after a stroke, or gradually over time. Symptoms may get worse after another stroke, a heart attack, or major surgery. These are signs and symptoms of VaD:
Increased difficulty in carrying out normal daily activities because of problems with concentration, communication, or inability to carry out instructions
Memory problems, although short-term memory may not be affected
Confusion, which may increase at night (known as "sundown syndrome")
Stroke symptoms, such as sudden weakness and difficulty with speech
Personality changes
Mood changes, such as depression or irritability
Stride changes when walking too fast, shuffling steps
Problems with movement and/or balance
Urinary problems, such as urgency or incontinence
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, your doctor may order some of the following:
Computed tomography scan
Magnetic resonance imaging
Neuropsychological assessments. These tests can help distinguish VaD from other types of dementia and AD.
Psychiatric evaluation. This may be done to rule out a psychiatric condition that may resemble dementia.
VaD cannot be cured. The primary goal for VaD is to treat the underlying conditions that affect the blood flow to the brain. Treating these underlying conditions can help to reduce the risk factors for further damage to brain tissue.
Such treatments may include:
Medications to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetes, and problems with blood clotting
Lifestyle modifications, such as following a healthy diet, getting physical activity, quitting smoking, and quitting or decreasing alcohol consumption
Procedures to improve blood flow to the brain, such as carotid endarterectomy, angioplasty, and/or stenting; the carotid arteries are located in the neck and provide blood flow from the heart to the brain
Medications, such as cholinesterase inhibitors to treat the progression of dementia
Long-term prognosis for VaD
VaD is a progressive disease that has no cure. A person with VaD will eventually need a high level of care as a result of the loss of mental abilities, as well as a decline in physical abilities. Family members may be able to care for a VaD patient early on. As the disease progresses, however, the person may need more specialized care.
Respite programs, adult daycare programs, and other resources can help the caregiver get some time away from the demands of caring for a loved one with VaD.
Long-term care facilities that specialize in the care of patients with dementias, AD, and other related conditions are often available once a person affected by VaD can no longer be cared for at home. Your doctor or other health care provider can provide caregiver resources.


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VIDEO DOWNLOAD - Christy Hemme Shoot Interview
The former WWE Diva Search winner, Playboy cover model, and newest TNA Knockout, Christy Hemme met us for a one-on-one interview that uncovers the secrets you've always wanted to know about this heart-stopping beauty.
- Were you a fan of wrestling before the Diva Search
- What did you know about the WWE beforehand
- Who did you enjoy watching if so
- How did you find out about the contest
- What were your objectives going into contest? Was it to win and have a career in WWE or win and parlay it into other opportunities
- Did you train or diet or study wrestling going into the contest
- What were the tryouts like
- First impressions of Coach
- Did any of the guys try and flirt or insinuate that you would go further if you went on a date with them, etc
- Who was your favorite judge
- What surprised you most about the contest
- How did you find out you were going to the next round live on Raw
- How did the whole process go, were the divas kept separate from the WWE talent, etc
- Were you approached by any talent
- Did you have a boyfriend at the time
- Did anyone hit on you at the Raws
- Initial impressions of Vince
- How were you treated by the current WWE divas at that time
- What was your favorite contest
- Did you bond with any of the other girls
- Thoughts on Carmella
- When did you think you had the contest in the bag
- What happened before the pillow fight, was it changed
- Thoughts on how the skit with Kimala went down
- Did you know who he was
- Did it bother you when people would boo the contest portions live on Raw
- Did it bother you after the contest when some girls got hired that didn't win, like Carmella
- Were you surprised you won
- How quickly did your life change and how
- Did anyone mentor you after you won
- Who did you travel with
- Were you outcast from the locker room at all
- Were you ribbed
- How were you treated by the other girls
- Thoughts on working with the Rock during the Diva Search
- What were your thoughts the following week when you were initiated by being stripped down
- Did the pressures early on of ribbing and just being looked down upon ever make you want to quit
- How soon did you realize you were going to wrestle
- Was there anything ever said to you during the contest or after about dating the boys
- What were your thoughts on that
- Who taught you
- Thoughts on Fit Finley (agent in charge of women's matches)
- Was it easy for you to pick up
- What was the hardest thing about it
- Thoughts on Eric Bischoff and working with him
- Randy Orton has a rap for being horrible to women, did you notice it and did it happen to you
- Thoughts on Amy Webber's claims that he would rib her constantly
- Thoughts on Molly Holly
- Thoughts on Gail Kim
- Thoughts on Lita
- Thoughts on working with Edge and Shawn Michaels
- Did anyone do anything inappropriate that you would have to say something about
- How did the Playboy deal come about
- How did that change your life
- Was it hard to stay level-headed during your success
- When you were told you were wrestling Trish at Wrestlemania, what did you think
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This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages.
You've all heard the premise before: You go out on a cruise and are shipwrecked. The island has plenty of food, water, and shelter for you to live pleasantly for a long period of time (well, at least as pleasantly as one can live without an internet connection). Now the person talking to you says, "You only managed to find one music CD in the ship wreckage, and a working CD player. What CD will get you through this marooning?" More often than not, the person you are talking to then laughs at you when you answer, because you listen to weird music and and are inherently weird yourself.
Well, that is what happens to me, anyway.
Moving on, here is my version of the situation: You are stuck on an island. There is plenty of food, water, and shelter to survive. However, it's all in very basic form; there is no cup of never-ending chicken soup or fancy hotel. I hope you like bananas, and don't mind the rain. Now, in this scenario, there was one person who survived the cruise with you!
Here is where you come in to making this scenario. Name one person from Warcraft lore or an NPC from in game that you survived the wreck with. Did you manage to survive with Garrosh Hellscream? You could spend your time wrestling and training until you are rescued! Maybe Kael'thas Sunstrider, so you would have someone who would never, ever, ever, ever tire of talking. Or perhaps you would like to have that bread vendor from Ironforge, to supplement your diet of bananas. So who would you bring and why? (By the way, if you bring a mage, no portal or teleport runes were recovered from the wreck. No cheating!)


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Sun Fin wrote:This is an issue that new members bring up every so often. The site goes through periods of seeming little activity whilst at other times is hugely active. What normally causes a surge in new posts is Koei releasing a new game or a group of new members all arriving at the same time (who actually sticks around). Many of us old heads have discussed the 3K period so much now (in general and with each other) that unless something new happens, like Cao Cao's tomb being discovered, it takes someone new coming in with a new view point to start the ball rolling. I know where most people stand on Liu Bei, Cao Cao, ZGL, Sun Ce, Guan Yu etc and if I was going to convince anyone it would have already happened!
The wider issue is that with the dwindling popularity of DW the number of English speakers getting interested in the 3K period is in to decline. Before I got involved in the 3K forum world (so I guess ancient history these days ) there were many English speaking 3K sites but they've all faded away and SoSZ is all that is left. I was hopeful that things like Red Cliff's would prompt new interest but it seems that hope was in vain.
If you want to spark activity go back and find old, unique threads and make new points that will spark conversation, I know that's easier said than done, I spent 2 years trying to do that!
Korin wrote:http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/ is good but it has loads of guests, like here.
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Copyright © 2002–2008 Kongming's Archives. All Rights Reserved


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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity swim teams swept Indian River in the last meet before the holiday break last week with the girls beating the Indians 132-32 and the boys holding up their end with a 94-53 win.
With the win over Indian River, the Seahawk girls remained unbeaten on the season heading into the holidays. Taylor Blazer won two events including the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter backstroke, while Brianna Carroll also won two events including the 200-meter individual medley and the 100-meter freestyle. Ali McLoota won the 200-meter free, Catelin Geiser won the 100-meter butterfly and Katie Hudson won the 500-meter free.
On the boys' side, the Seahawks prevailed 94-53. Jake Blazer won two events including the 200-meter and 100-meter freestyle. Brandon Flakowitz won the 100-meter butterfly, Josh Wilder took the 500-meter freestyle, Bobby Layton won the 100-meter backstroke and Garrett Neville won the 100-meter breaststroke. The meet against Indian River was the last before the holiday break for both teams. The Seahawks return to action on January 12 against Cape Henlopen.


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Academic Policy Details
Tutorial Course
The tutorial course is designed to offer degree-seeking juniors and seniors the opportunity to take a course listed in the current William Woods University catalog, but out of the regularly scheduled sequence. A tutorial course will be considered for approval after other options, such as course substitution, have been considered. A tutorial is not designed to allow a student to forego a regularly scheduled class, may not be used to meet William Woods University's general education requirements, but is available as a last resort.
Courses approved for a tutorial must meet one of these criteria: (1) The course is not offered on a regular rotation; (2) The course will not be taught in the following semester; or (3) The course is needed by a senior with conflicting courses.
The following policies apply: (1) A student who has previously dropped a course may not petition to take that same course as a tutorial. (2) Students must register for tutorial courses during regular registrations and must be processed on official forms available at the Registrar's Office and must be approved by the Academic Dean. (5) Divisions and Departments are not obliged to provide tutorials upon a student's request. (6) A student is allowed to take no more than 6 credit hours of tutorial coursework. (7) Tutorial courses are subject to the usual tuition charges and to an additional fee per credit hour. (8) Tutorials are not available to students in Graduate & Adult Studies who are participating in degree completion programs.
These policies apply to the Semester Program/On Campus students only. Graduate College Students will need to consult the Graduate College Bulletin.


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Item Description
Photograph, Robert B. Mitchell
Author: Nichols, A. C., Photographer
Robert B. Mitchell settled in Paris, Linn County, Kansas Territory, in 1856. He was born in Ohio and studied law. He was active in free state territorial politics. He served in the territorial House of Representatives in 1857 and 1858, was a member of the Leavenworth constitutional convention, and was appointed territorial treasurer on February 11, 1859. He was part of the free state supporters who followed Charles Hamilton and his band after the Marais des Cygnes massacre. After the territorial period he served as a brigadier general in the Second kansas volunteer cavalry and held the appointive post of governor of Nnew Mexico from 1866 to 1869.
Location of Original: KSHS Call Number: B Mitchell, Robert B *4
Item Number: 102480 Number of images: 1
Keywords: Constitutional conventions; Free state supporters; Kansas Territory. Legislature; Leavenworth Constitutional Convention, March-April 1858; Linn County, Kansas Territory; Marais des Cygnes Massacre; Mitchell, Robert Byington; Paris, Kansas Territory
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Whether on the golf course or in the conference room, the sporty and elegant Rolex Datejust II is the perfect companion for every occasion. The 41-mm case and date display with a Cyclops lens are characteristic of this luxurious three-hand watch.
No other watch manufacturer is as celebrated for their consistency as Rolex. One secret to this Genevan manufacturer's success is their iconic designs. Their calibers also have a sparkling reputation among experts for their world-class precision and accuracy. Improvements to models only happen in minute detail, which keeps the designs consistent. The Datejust has a similar story. It first premiered in 1945, but it took 64 years before Rolex released the Datejust II . The most striking change was the Datejust II's 41-mm diameter, an increase of 5 mm from its predecessor. However, the watch retains the characteristic mark of the Datejust: a date display with a Cyclops lens at 3 o'clock.
The introduction of the Rolex Datejust II didn't mark the end of an era: The old and new Datejusts were both part of the Rolex catalog from 2009 to 2016. The Datejust 41, powered by the caliber 3235, replaced the Datejust II in 2016. This new caliber features a power reserve of 70 hours. Its predecessor, which was powered by the caliber 3136, could only store enough energy for 48 hours.
|Reference number
|Price (approx.)
|Stainless steel, gold
|Stainless steel, white gold
|Stainless steel
The Rolex Datejust II comes in many different versions. Those in stainless steel are the most affordable. Pieces with the reference number 116300 have a polished bezel; a black, blue, or silver dial; and indices for the hour markers. Never-worn watches with this reference number cost almost 7,800 USD, while pre-owned models go for around 6,900 USD. Though slightly more elegant, watches with the reference number 116334 are still understated. These bicolor models are made of stainless steel and white gold, have fluted bezels, and dials that come in blue, white, rhodium, or silver. Rolex uses indices, diamonds, or Arabic or Roman numerals to mark the hours. These models demand about 8,700 USD in mint condition and 7,900 USD pre-owned.
If you enjoy gold watches or 80s style, you should take a closer look at the bicolor stainless steel and yellow gold editions. These Rolex Datejust II models are listed under the reference number 116333 and, like the other bicolor editions, feature fluted bezels and numerous dial designs. The champagne-colored dial perfectly complements the design of this bicolor watch. Prices for unworn pieces with this reference number sit around 11,000 USD. Pre-owned models go for about 9,900 USD.
Like the Datejust II, the Rolex Datejust 41 also comes in a number of designs in stainless steel or a combination of stainless steel and gold. Introduced in 2016, it has a slightly slimmer case than its predecessor. However, the chief improvement is the caliber 3235 with the efficient Chronergy escapement and a 70-hour power reserve. A stainless steel Datejust 41 with a polished bezel and the reference number 126300 costs about 7,300 USD new. Pre-owned pieces are hard to come by and are therefore only marginally less expensive. This is also true of the Rolesor – or bicolor – editions. The price for a mint-condition reference number 126333 in stainless steel and yellow gold comes in at around 11,200 USD. The reference number 126331 in stainless steel and Everose gold costs about 12,200 USD. At around 9,800 USD, the more subdued ref. 126334 in stainless steel and white gold is somewhat more affordable.
The Rolex Datejust is one of Rolex's most popular and successful models. With the Datejust II and the Datejust 41, Rolex released two contemporary watches that suit almost any occasion. Both are water resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft) and are robust enough to survive a dip in a pool, lake, or sea. At the same time, their movements are especially resistant to jolts, meaning these gold watches can stay on your wrist even while playing sports. You can also adjust the length of the bracelet for maximum comfort if your wrist should swell on a warm day. Due to their sporty and elegant designs, every Datejust model is also suitable for the office or a dinner party. Very few luxury watches are as dynamic as the Rolex Datejust.
Like its sibling, the Datejust II has an iconic design: an Oyster case together with a three-piece link Oyster bracelet, a date display with a Cyclops lens, and a fluted gold bezel. The gold bezel references the very first Datejust from 1945, although today it's available in white or yellow gold as well. The Datejust 41 also comes in Everose gold. If you're not a fan of the fluted look, you have the option of a smooth stainless steel bezel. The cases of many watches in this series are made of noncorrosive 904L stainless steel. It's a hallmark of Rolex and also used in the aerospace industry. The steel can be polished to a high sheen, resulting in a bright, glossy case, case back, and three-piece link Oyster bracelet.
The bracelet is partly polished and partly brushed, creating a contrast against the shiny case and bracelet links. The bracelet can be opened and closed with all types of Rolex clasps. The Oyster clasp in particular offers one practical extra: the Easylink extension system, which allows you to lengthen the bracelet by 5 mm. This is useful if your wrist swells on warm days or after working out. With its domed links and thin clasp, the bracelet is comfortable to wear. It doesn't trap hair or pinch skin.
The dial is available in black, white, champagne, rhodium, silver, or blue. Sunburst patterns on the dial add texture and shine. The dial's thick bar indices are made of 18-karat gold and don't tarnish even after decades of wear. On the Datejust II, they're filled with luminous material, as are the hands, making the watch easy to read in the dark. The iconic Rolex crown is at the 12-hour marker. Versions with Roman or Arabic numerals as indices instead of bars are also available. The date display is located at 3 o'clock and is magnified 2.5x by the Cyclops lens.
If you prefer a more refined look, then the stainless steel and white gold or stainless steel and yellow gold bicolor versions are good choices. The white gold model provides a truly subtle statement; upon first glance, it's easily mistaken for stainless steel. The Rolex Day-Date is also made of gold. It displays the date and day of the week written out in full at 12 o'clock and was the first watch to do so worldwide. The watch, nicknamed the "President watch," is exclusively available in gold or platinum.
Founder Hans Wilsdorf emphasized the importance of precision, reliability, and robustness in Rolex watches. Rolex calibers are considered prime examples of the art of watchmaking. The caliber 3136 powers the Datejust II. It's based on the 3135, but has an added extra feature: Rolex's Paraflex shock protection system. Thanks to this system, the watch can withstand shocks and jolts 50% better than other protection systems. It also brings the balance staff back to its proper position more reliably. The Paraflex system was first introduced in 2005.
The blue Parachrom hairspring can also handle shocks incredibly well. Since it's made of a special zirconium-niobium alloy, it's also non-magnetic. The Breguet spring, with its upraised coil and reduced curvature, "breathes" more freely and increases precision. The watch can be regulated via Microstella nuts located on the inner side of the balance rim. You can adjust them with the help of a special tool. Every Rolex watch is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). It then undergoes even stricter certification tests in-house. Rolex chronometers only deviate by a maximum of 2 seconds a day.
In most cases, the watchmakers are the only ones to see the movement, but some parts are still elaborately decorated. The winding rotor is partly skeletonized and, like the automatic bridge, features a sunburst pattern. The bridges also feature perlage finishing, the screw heads are polished, and the edges are both polished and beveled. The blue hairspring and red crown wheels add bright color accents to the otherwise colorless movement.


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Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 hit the ground running
Sony brings the high-speed sensor technology of their Cyber-shot HX1 to two slimmer packages with the announcement of the Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 and Cyber-shot DSC-WX1. The new EXMOR R sensor in each model promises better low-light performance and high-speed shooting at up to 10 fps. Both cameras will record 720p HD video at 30 fps.
The Cyber-shot TX1 and Cyber-shot WX1 both feature a 10.2 megapixel "EXMOR R" CMOS sensor. According to Sony, the EXMOR R achieves higher sensitivity to light than a traditional CMOS sensor by moving the wire circuitry behind the photodiodes. This should offer the sensor more exposure to light, boosting low light performance and reducing graininess in photos taken at higher ISO. Low light shooting has been a trouble spot for Sony compacts in the past, so we're eager to see how well the new sensor technology combats noise levels at ISO 400 and beyond.
Slim meets high-speed
The ultra-slim Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 falls in step with other T series model with a 3.0 inch touch screen on the back panel. With a layer of glass over the display, Sony claims this 230,000 dot LCD will be twice as durable as the screen on the Cyber-shot T90.
The lens is Carl Zeiss, a 4x optical zoom equivalent to 35-140mm with a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
The TX1 strikes a very slim profile at 16.5mm thin. The optics are all internally contained and protected behind a sliding cover. We've admired the simple, modern aesthetic off the T700 and its successors, and the TX1 is no exception.
Faster camera, bright lens
The Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 will bear the Sony G name on its lens. It will feature a wide-angle 24-120mm 5x optical zoom range with a fast f/2.4 maximum aperture.
The WX1 sports a slightly smaller 2.7 inch LCD on the back panel alongside a standard array of shooting modes and controls. It's just under an inch in thickness, so it's larger than the TX1 but slim enough to carry in a coat pocket.
It's a familiar face in the Sony compact lineup, but the combination of a bright, wide-angle lens and 10 fps shooting is a promising package indeed. All of that new technology doesn't come cheap, though. With an MSRP around $350, it's well ahead of other W series models in price.
Both cameras are equipped with a BIONZ image processor. Though the WX1 has a Sony G brand on its lens and the TX1 a Carl Zeiss, they're both optically stabilized. Other shared features include the sweep panorama mode introduced with the HX1 and Anti-Motion Blur shooting mode. The list of soft features goes on, including Smile Shutter and the newly added Pet mode.
Pricing and availability
The Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 should debut in October and will retail for $349.99. The Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 will arrive in September with a suggested retail price of $379.99. If you can't wait to get your hands on one of these new models, Sony will begin taking pre-orders for the TX1 and WX1 in August.


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Deciding on a recipient for Club Industry's first ever Lifetime Achievement Award, was not an easy task. In fact, it was far more difficult than the staff had ever assumed it would be. Perhaps the most daunting task was to decide on what type of person we wanted to bestow the honor. Would it be a club owner? A manufacturer? Someone from an association? In the end, we decided the award this year — while open to all of the above — needed to go to someone who has helped all of the above by promoting the healthy lifestyle on many levels.
After that, the field was now finite, and we set out to find that person. Of course, with such a narrow field, our task was much easier. OK, that is revisionist history. In searching for nominees from our advisory board, industry veterans, club owners — just about anyone that would listen — we received so many worthy candidates from all walks of the fitness industry that we knew our decision was going to be even harder. That is until we noticed one name that kept popping up over and over. That's not to say that this person was the only one coming up multiple times. It is just when looking at this man's influence on bringing bodybuilding, fitness, nutrition and healthy living to the forefront of the public's mind — and building a sound business behind it — it is easy to say that his hard work helped to raise the profile of the entire fitness industry.
Club Industry is proud to award its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Joe Weider, a true pioneer in his efforts to bring strength and fitness to the public's consciousness.
Since 1936, Weider has been paving the way for strength training and fitness. His training principles have influenced athletes, coaches and sports scientists to alter their training. He has prompted the medical community to embrace strength training and fitness as preventive "treatment" for illnesses and a factor against aging. He has also helped show psychologists that exercise is a powerful tool in mental health. He has brought the sport of bodybuilding out from the shadows and turned its competitors into stars and role models.
But ask Weider which accomplishment he is most proud of and like a proud father he'll tell you he loves them all.
"I'm proud of everything that I did over the years," says Weider. "Everything that I did was for the love of it."
Born in 1922, Weider grew up in a tough neighborhood in Montreal, Canada during the Great Depression. He left school at age 12 to work as a delivery boy for a fruit and groceries market, pulling a wagon for 10 hours a day. A slight boy, standing 5 feet 5 inches and weighing a mere 115 pounds, Weider became easy prey for local thugs.
"I lived in a neighborhood where kids used to fight. They used fists in those days; today they use bullets," Weider says. "I was small and decided I had to do something to change."
Weider tried joining the wrestling team at the Montreal YMCA, which he says turned him down for fear he'd hurt himself training with boys that were much heavier and stronger than he. But that would change.
"In Montreal in those days they had shops that sold copies of old books and magazines, and I bought two copies of Strength Magazine. I took them home and read them all night," he recalls. "I decided that strength training was the way to go if I wanted to get bigger and stronger and defend myself. I started lifting weights at age 13 or so."
By the age of 15, neighborhood bullies no longer bothered him, except to ask for advice about getting bigger and stronger. Just two years later, Weider competed in his first amateur contest, the Montreal Senior Meet, where he lifted 70 pounds more than competitors in his weight class.
His dream through all this was to bring accurate, complete training advice and routines to the masses, not just the guys in his neighborhood. So, with $7 in his pocket, he began to work on what would become the first issue of Your Physique — the precursor to the Weider publishing empire — to be published in 1940. The orders poured in and within 18 months he had made $10,000 in profits. In 1942, Weider started the mail order Weider Barbell Co.; his magazine now offered weight sets and other equipment, as well as some rudimentary vitamin and mineral supplements.
"Fitness was like a religion to me, and I wanted to bring the message to the people," says Weider. "I wanted to do nothing more than bring bodybuilding to the world."
But Weider knew he wasn't in it alone when educating people.
"As far back as the 1950s I knew that the gyms would become the educational force for people to get strong, be healthy and live longer," he says. "I knew that it would grow from a place where people just wanted to build muscles and turn into a place were people would go to improve their health. It is because of this that bodybuilding is going to keep growing and expanding."
Weider doesn't limit the term bodybuilding to those that take their body to the limits, going even as far as turning pro the International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB), which he and his brother Ben formed in 1946.
"Everybody that works out is bodybuilding," muses Weider. "They are taking their physique and sculpting it — be it making the muscles larger or stripping away body fat — building it into a healthier, higher functioning and more attractive thing."
In fact, weight training and bodybuilding continues to grow in popularity — especially among women — thanks, in part, to many of Weider's publications (which were sold to American Media last year) such as Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Shape and Muscle & Fitness Hers.
"When I started Shape in 1980, I thought to myself 'how am I going to get women interested in training with weights and getting strong?' There had always been such a negative connotation to strong women," says Weider. "I decided to put actresses and models on the cover. Even then it was difficult to get them to hold a two-pound dumbbell for the cover. Now you look in a gym and women are training, often harder than the men."
But even today in his 80s, Weider says that both men and women need to continue seeking the fitter lifestyle offered in today's clubs.
"If you compare people today with our ancestors, you can see a couple of things. One of them is that our biology hasn't changed much. The other is that our lifestyle has. This has led to poorer health and fitness," he says. "Our biology is still one that is built around being active and using our muscles. But instead, we sit, hunched over keyboards and do nothing. This leads to us being weak, fat and unhealthy. Exercise is the only way people of today can be in touch with their biological side."
But while Weider believes the industry as a whole is doing a great job of providing education and resources to the masses for improving their fitness, some of the problems may be harder to fix than the fitness facility industry can handle.
"People are lazy. They are looking for a machine that they don't have to do much on. They want a magic pill rather than watch their diet. There are a great many people out there looking for the path with the least line of resistance," says Weider. "That's how the hucksters get into the game — making promises that can't possibly be kept — and make it hard for the legitimate fitness professionals. I've worked hard to make sure that I am not thought of in the industry as a huckster by providing accurate, truthful and helpful information in the magazine, with our equipment and in our supplements."
Despite his goal of getting out the message of bodybuilding and fitness to the masses, many say his image of bodybuilders is that of unnatural proportions.
"If you look at bodybuilders through the years, there were plenty of big, strong men in the '30s and '40s, etc.," says Weider. "And before the 1960s and '70s nobody was taking any drugs. And even if they are today, they may help a little, but those people still need to train hard and eat well to really excel. You have to be very disciplined to be in shape, and to take it to the sport of bodybuilding, you need to be the most disciplined of all the athletes."
In fact, Weider takes aim at the many false claims and empty promises, be it in nutrition, training or health clubs.
"We placed ads years ago to open gyms and must have gotten 2,000 responses of people wanting to open gyms," says Weider. "But we never did it because too many of them were badmouthing other gyms — many that were owned by friends of mine — or making exaggerated promises. Even with our nutrition products, we make no exaggerated claims or crazy promises so people know what to expect."
But in the end, Weider says that if his publications over the years have helped and continue to help shape the industry, he is satisfied without making the exaggerated claims of others.
"Personal training grew out of the education given in the pages of our magazines in the '70s and '80s. Today, clubs offer nutrition, aerobics, children's programming and a number of other things to make sure that there is something for everyone," says Weider. "And as long as we get the right message, right education and the truth about training, nutrition and supplementation out there and give them the equipment, and places to use them, eventually, the sport of bodybuilding and the health of the people will continue to advance."
Timeline of Joe Weider and His Businesses:
- 1922 - Born
- 1934 - Left school
- 1940 - Publishes first issue of Your Physique [precursor to Muscle & Fitness]
- 1942 - Weider Barbell Co. launched
- 1946 - Starts International Federation of Body Builders
- 1950 - Introduces the Weider Training Principles
- 1965 - Creates the Mr. Olympia contest
- 1978 - Creates the Ms. Olympia Contest
- 1980 - Launches Shape magazine
- 1989 - Weider Health and Fitness establishes its three principal business divisions: Sporting Goods, Nutrition and Publications, as independent subsidiaries
- 1995 - Creates Fitness Olympia
- 2002 - Weider Publications sold to American Media Inc. for $350 million


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There's nothing super about Stephen Amell.
That is to say, he doesn't have X-ray vision, super strength or the ability to fly, and yet on Wednesday night, he'll have the power to captivate an audience of comic book aficionados and salivating fangirls alike when he debuts as the star of Arrow — and for The CW, that's one hell of a superpower.
Like Smallville's Tom Welling before him, the 31-year-old Canadian actor is about to fill some large shoes by bringing one of DC Comics' Justice League members to life. For Amell, it's the Green Arrow, a superhero without the super.
Arrow Bosses: We're taking the super out of superhero
Amell plays Oliver Queen, a wealthy playboy who survives a boating accident that leaves him stranded on a deserted island for five years. While there, he hones his archery skills to survive, birthing his alter ego, Arrow. Upon his return, he'll have his work cut out for him as he attempts to clean up Starling City (yes, it's not called Star City) and right his family's wrongs.
In that same vein, Amell has his work cut out for him, following in the footsteps of Justin Hartley, who recently portrayed the Green Arrow on Smallville. But Amell insists that there will be few, if any, similarities to that other CW superhero series. Below, Amell shares his thoughts on taking on the role and what's in store for DC Comics fans and newbies alike:
How much pressure do you feel taking on such an iconic role, especially one that was on television so recently?
Amell: I don't feel pressure at all. I felt pressure one time during the pilot when we were doing hair and makeup tests. It's like the first day of school for everybody and all the departments came in. I had been on the set at the production office for a few weeks getting ready and I remember driving into the studio and it felt like there were 12,000 cars there. In my head, I'm just thinking, "All of these people are here for the pilot. They all want it to go to series. I'm in every scene. If I do a bad job, it's not going to go." So I felt pressure then, but as it relates to the character, no. I like where we are with the show. I'd be nervous if I didn't think the show was good, but I think it's really good and I think we're giving people what they want.
Had you read any of the comics to prepare?
Amell: I didn't read any before because the pilot script was all-encompassing and I trusted [executive producers] David Nutter, Andrew Kresiberg and Marc Guggenheim implicitly. Then, I read everything.
Did you ever have childhood dreams of someday playing a superhero?
Amell: No, I wanted to — and continue to want to — play villains. When I realized they were relaunching Superman, but they already cast Michael Shannon as General Zod, I was apoplectic. That's my dream role. If they reboot Batman, I'd love to play the Riddler. I love villains. The cool thing about Oliver is that he wants justice and he wants people with power to handle it responsibly, but he also has an ultimate goal of cleaning up Starling City and he's not afraid of collateral damage. Oliver is not a villain by any means, but he's certainly not squeaky-clean, and that's really enticing for me.
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What's your take on Oliver Queen/Green Arrow?
Amell: My take, as it relates to our show, is that we're dealing with an Oliver Queen who is vengeful, but he's also damaged. He has post-traumatic stress disorder. He must, based on what he saw on the island and what he saw before he got to the island. We are dealing with somebody that I wouldn't call entirely stable. That adds an element of danger to our show that people will enjoy.
Superman and Batman both have that code not to kill.
Amell: Oliver has a no guns rule.
But he has no code about killing people?
Amell: Nope. I find this interesting because there's a lot of death and destruction on The Vampire Diaries, but we're talking about vampires, werewolves and witches, so it's almost as though people have agreed that it's OK to kill these people because they're fictional anyway. But on our show, in the pilot, the guy says to me, "You don't have to do this," but I say, "No, I do have to, because the end goal is more important than you are." That's a cool element to this show. That keeps it grounded in reality.
People will obviously draw comparisons to Smallville. How is the series different?
Amell: In totality. Nobody has superpowers on our show. We try to do everything that we can without wires. All the fights, we do them. When I fall on rocks in the second episode, I'm falling on rocks. It hurts. It's a comic book show, yup. It's on The CW, for sure. But I think people will stop drawing the comparisons beyond length of time that it's on the air and viewership because they're extremely different shows.
12 things Arrow can learn from Smallville, Buffy and more!
How do you keep Oliver/Arrow grounded?
Amell: You just have to remove ego from it. One of my favorite performances that I saw was Clive Owen in Children of Men, and I remember reading a New York Times review about that and they said, "Mr. Owen played the part without ego." Oliver is able to do some amazing things physically, mentally, even emotionally, so I can't be afraid to make him vulnerable. I can't make him afraid to fail. If somebody bests him, it's fun to see him rise up and try to defeat that person later. Hopefully that happens.
If you're under the impression as a viewer that Green Arrow can never be defeated, then where are the stakes? We need that element of danger. One of people's favorite parts of Game of Thrones is that they killed the Ned Stark character. Wow, he died! Everybody is in play. Anything can happen! We want people to think, on our show, anything can happen.
What other characters from the DC canon are you hoping to see?
Amell: I would love to see Deathstroke. We hint at him. I would like to see Ra's al Ghul actually. There's some connection with the Merlyn (Colin Donnell) character because Merlyn, in the comics, was a member of the League of Shadows. That would be awesome. Batman! Why not? Batman could exist in our world, for sure.
Which DC Comics characters are coming to CW's Arrow?
And of course, you'll have Black Canary at some point. How will the relationship between Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and Oliver develop?
Amell: As the director of our pilot always said, the opposite of love is not hate, it's apathy. Laurel hates Oliver. She's not indifferent to him. He loves her. He's just afraid of what could happen to her if people that were out to get Arrow found out about his feelings toward her. I'd be amazed if there weren't a few more chapters in the Oliver-Laurel love book.
He calls his little sister Thea (Willa Holland) "Speedy" in the pilot. Would you love to have her as a sidekick?
Amell: I'd be interested to see what they do. If you're to ground it in reality, we wouldn't have Willa — who is a wonderful actress, but not the largest individual in the world — flying around and beating up guys three times her size, but there are definitely things she could do as Speedy to aid Arrow if they choose to go in that direction. Right now, Willa's character is a long way from Speedy. We see in the second and third episode, there's a real strain between her and Oliver. It's one thing for him to come back and hug her hello; it's another thing for them to adjust. She went from age 12 to age 17. That's a formidable change in a young woman's life. Their relationship is a long way from being sound, let alone for him to invite her into his secret identity and to eventually use her as a sidekick or an accomplice.
Which characters from the DC mythology would you like to see on Arrow? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
Arrow premieres Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW. Will you be watching?


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Showcasing the endless possibilities of the Thing-O-Matic, the New Museum MakerBot Challenge is open to the entire creative community. Embodying the New Museum's mission of "New Art, New Ideas," this interactive and experiential Challenge aims to push the concept of the "derivative," by improving on or personalizing established design conventions. From the banal toothbrush to complex bicycle gears, how can 3D printing help to develop the world around us?
The winning design will be printed on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic on display in the New Museum Store's window. The winning designer will receive a New Museum Deluxe membership ($400 value), a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic® Kit ($1299 value), and a special invitation to the New Museum MakerBot Challenge launch party.
Five runner-ups will have their designs printed by MakerBot and sent to them.
1. If you are not already registered, sign up for an account at Thingiverse.com
2. Upload your 3D files, and tag them with NewMuseumChallenge by October 31, 2011
3. In the description, write a statement about your design. What is the design a derivative of? How does it improve on or challenge existing design conventions?
1. Designs may be one single part or multiple parts that are each smaller than 4 x 4 x 4 ¾ in (100 x 100 x 120 mm) and printable on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic.
2. Different parts can be made in white, yellow, orange, red, UV reactive red, UV reactive nuclear green, camping green, blue, black, and glow-in-the-dark.
3. The design may require multiple builds, however no more than three builds are allowed.
A team from MakerBot, Rhizome, and the New Museum will select the final designs. The jurors are looking for designs that utilize the unique ability of 3D printing to personalize and improve on the world around us.


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A kidnapped American aid contractor is alive and in good health, being held by a Pakistani Al Qaeda affiliate that's likely to use him as a bargaining chip, according to militants, security officials, and analysts.
Warren Weinstein, who was kidnapped in August from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, is in the custody of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militants in North Waziristan, a ranking Pakistani militant told McClatchy. The militant said he'd seen Mr. Weinstein last month and at that point "his health was fine."
"He is being provided all available medical treatment, including regular checkups by a doctor and the medicines prescribed for him before he was plucked," the militant, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said last week in an interview.
Little has been revealed publicly about Weinstein's status since December, when Ayman al Zawahiri, the head of Al Qaeda, said in a video that the terrorist network was holding him.
Weinstein, who's from Rockville, Md., spent several years as the Pakistan country manager for J.E. Austin Associates, a contractor for the US Agency for International Development. Reportedly in ill health, he'd packed his bags and was within hours of leaving Pakistan for good on Aug. 13 when militants kidnapped him from his home in the affluent suburb of Model Town.
Mohammed Imran, a security analyst in Islamabad who maintains contact with Pakistani militant groups, said he'd received messages from militants indicating that Weinstein's captors had no plans to harm him, and that he was being provided with medical care.
"Al Qaeda won't kill Weinstein. It will keep him as healthy as is possible in the circumstances, and use him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Pakistani authorities," he said.
Militants and security analysts said Weinstein might be traded for Al Qaeda members who were in Pakistani custody, or used as a human shield to prevent security forces from striking its camps in North Waziristan.
Could take years?
They said retired Pakistani militant commanders were acting as interlocutors to negotiate Weinstein's release, but they predicted a drawn-out process that could take years.
US officials said they had no information about Weinstein's status or condition. The American government, including the FBI, is assisting in a Pakistani investigation into the kidnapping, a US official based in Islamabad said.
"We remain concerned for his safety and well-being," said the official, who also spoke only on the condition of anonymity due to the issue's sensitivity. He declined to provide additional information about the case, citing privacy considerations.
A woman who answered the phone this week at Weinstein's Maryland home declined to comment. A family friend, John Bestic, said, "Because of the psychological impact to the family, the position we are taking is no comment until evidence or proof of life can be corroborated."
A daring rescue – such as the Navy SEAL operation announced Wednesday that freed two aid workers, including an American woman, who'd been held captive by Somali pirates – appeared highly unlikely in Weinstein's case. Pakistan remains furious over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad last May, calling it a breach of its sovereignty that badly damaged its relationship with Washington.
Seven abducted foreigners in six months
Militants, criminal groups or separatists have abducted seven foreigners over the past six months in Pakistan, underscoring deteriorating security conditions in the country.
The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group is the "chief handmaiden of Al Qaeda" in Pakistan, said Christine Fair, an expert on Pakistan at Georgetown University. She added that the group's operatives have "overlapping memberships" in other Pakistani radical Sunni Muslim organizations, including the Pakistani Taliban.
The group, which the United States and Pakistan consider a terrorist organization, formed in 1996. It's mostly staged spectacular attacks on Pakistan's minority Shiite Muslims. But it was blamed for the 1997 killings of four US oil workers in the port city of Karachi and a suicide bombing against Shiites on Dec. 6 in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
A judicial review board in the Pakistani province of Punjab refused this month to grant a government request to extend the house arrest of one of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's founders, Malik Ishaq, because of what it said was a lack of evidence of his involvement in terrorist activities.
Who's who in Lashkar-eJhangvi?
Ahmed Omar Farooq assumed charge of the group after a US drone strike killed its leader, Ilyas Kashmiri, in North Waziristan last June. He's also succeeded Kashmiri as the chief of Al Qaeda's military operations in Pakistan, making him the only Pakistani who's trusted enough to be included in the terrorist network's hierarchy, the militants and security officials said.
Pakistani security analysts said Farooq fit the profile of an Al Qaeda ideologue. Unlike Kashmiri, he's a member of Pakistan's social elite: His mother, Amira Ehsan, was a member of Parliament in the 1980s under the Islamist military regime of Gen. Zia ul-Haq.
Farooq graduated from the International Islamic University, Islamabad, which was a hive of militant Islamism in the 1980s and '90s. Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, Osama bin Laden's Palestinian mentor, taught there in the 1980s and may have influenced Farooq.
Farooq went underground in December 2009, after four militants whom he'd housed stormed a Rawalpindi mosque used by military families and killed 40 people – including many active and retired servicemen and 17 of their children – during Friday prayers.
Farooq also is holding captive Amir Aftab Malik, the son-in-law of a former chairman of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff, Gen. Tariq Majeed. Malik was kidnapped from Lahore a year before Weinstein was, from an adjacent suburb and in similar circumstances.
Security analysts said it wasn't yet clear whether Weinstein's captors were involved in the kidnapping last week of two Western aid workers – an Italian and a German – from the central city of Multan, where they were working to help Pakistanis recover from the massive 2010 floods that rendered 20 million people homeless.
As the country manager for J.E. Austin for the past seven years, Weinstein had piloted the creation of public-private companies to develop the dairy, granite and marble, and gems and jewelry sectors of Pakistan's struggling economy.
Some of his work took him to Pakistan's militant-infested tribal areas, prompting him to don the local garb, the shalwar kameez, and to acquire a working knowledge of the regional Pashto language in addition to his fluent Urdu, the national language, a former colleague said.
"He did everything it took to make the distrusting tribesmen and administrators comfortable with what he was doing," said Steve Manuel, a former colleague of Weinstein's in Pakistan who now lives in San Jose, Calif.
"Amazingly, Warren said he never felt in danger in this most unpredictable and dangerous area of Pakistan."
(Mr. Hussain is a McClatchy special correspondent. Jonathan S. Landay and intern Kelsi Loos contributed to this article from Washington.)


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P.L. 2004, C. 53, imposes a gross receipts tax on the purchase of certain "cosmetic medical procedures." Cosmetic medical procedures are medical procedures performed in order to improve the human subject's appearance without significantly serving to prevent or treat illness or disease or to promote proper functioning of the body. The law provides that such procedures include, for example, cosmetic surgery, hair transplants, cosmetic injections, cosmetic soft tissue fillers, dermabrasion and chemical peels, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, laser treatment of leg veins, sclerotherapy, and cosmetic dentistry. They do not include reconstructive surgery or dentistry to correct or minimize abnormal structures caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease, including procedures performed in order to improve function or give the person a more normal appearance. The tax also applies to amounts charged for goods or facility occupancies, such as hospitalization or clinic stays, required for or directly associated with the cosmetic medical procedure.
The current rate is 6% on gross receipts from cosmetic procedures and related goods and occupancies. However, pursuant to P.L. 2011, c 189, which became effective January 17, 2012, the 6% rate will be reduced to 4% on taxable services performed on or after July 1, 2012 but before July 1, 2013, reduced further to 2% on taxable services performed on or after July 1, 2013 but before July 1, 2014 and eliminated entirely on taxable services performed on or after July 1, 2014.
For additional information on the phase out of the Cosmetics Medical Procedures Gross Receipts Tax, refer to the Notice of 2/18/2012.
Disposition of Revenues
Revenues are deposited in the State Treasury for general State use.


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Apple Mac Pro Workstation 2.66GHz (4-Core) (MA356TA/A, MA356J/A) Server RAM Memory Upgrades
The memory modules below are 100% compatible with your Apple Mac Pro Workstation 2.66GHz (4-Core) (MA356TA/A, MA356J/A) Server. Not your model? View the complete range of Apple Servers or view all Apple upgrades here.
4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules)
- Dimm Speed: DDR2-5300 (PC2-667)
- Dimm Type: Fully Buffered
- Product code: FT2GAPMACP6K-T/2
- Storage Capacity: 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules)
- Form Factor: 240 Pin Fully Bufferred Dimm
- OEM Part No: MA686G/A
Want it by Wednesday?
Order within the next 8 hours, 11 minutes, and select Express Delivery.
Was £63.38.
£62.40 inc. VAT
Lifetime WarrantyAll OFFTEK memory is backed by our full lifetime warranty. We obsess over our products so you do not have to. Our team constantly strive to ensure that all our memory is of the highest quality but should you ever have any issues with your purchase you have the peace of mind that you can return your product for a replacement if the need arises.
Top Brands
Guaranteed CompatibilityOver the years we have taken immense care in creating one of the most in depth memory configurators. We do this to ensure that when you purchase a memory upgrade from OFFTEK you are confident that the upgrade is 100% compatible with your system. Should you have any questions prior to ordering your upgrade we have technicians on hand via live chat, email or phone who will be able to answer any queries you may have.
We take the time to look into each machine to ensure that we offer all sizes and speeds that the machine is able to take not just the latest specification that has been released. We believe that offering all options for machines provides a 100% guarantee that the memory with function with your original memory module efficiently.
What is SMART?
Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting (aka SMART) technology is a capability integrated into most modern computers that enable the user to keep an eye on the health of your of its systems. It can be used to assess the health of both conventional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs).
Third-Party App
Whilst SMART is built into every Windows computer, viewing the information isn't as straightforward as it could and as result of this, it's usually better to try a third-party application rather than view very basic info via a command prompt.
We hold no affiliation with any of these types of software and as such, we can't vouch for the reliability or efficacy. However, judging by the many positive reviews, apps like HD Tune and GSmartControl are the kind of utility software you are looking for that supports the SMART facility.
Health check
Although the layout and procedures of each brand of open source software will differ, they will work along the same lines. With each, there will be a way to begin the health check and a way to view status information. Whichever you choose, there will be clear indications that a problem exists with either your HDD or your SSD.
There will obviously be gradations of health and you might see notifications relating to areas of caution to be aware of if it detects that your non-volatile memory is beginning to deteriorate.
It could be that your Hard Drive or SSD is literally about to fail or the info displayed could point to a failure months or even years into the future. However, armed with this information, you can take whatever steps you need to a) backup all of your important data and b) look at replacing the hardware as necessary.
Constant Monitoring
That is about the long and short of it for this useful type of diagnostic software, but some will also have a useful feature that can be used as an early warning system for potential issues. Running silently in the background as SMART programs can notify you when the status of any of your drives change. Again, the steps for each 3rd party app will differ, but will all do pretty much the same thing.
You might also like..
Specification of Apple Mac Pro Workstation 2.66GHz (4-Core) (MA356TA/A, MA356J/A) memory upgrade
Your system memory specification is listed below, most importantly your maximum memory capacity:
|Device Specifications
|Make + Model
|Apple Mac Pro Workstation 2.66GHz (4-Core) (MA356TA/A, MA356J/A)
|Device Type
|N° of Ram Slots
|8 Slots (4 Banks of 2)
|Standard Ram
|1GB (2 x 512MB Removable)
|Maximum Memory
|Apple Tech Support
|Official Apple Support Link
If you are looking to place a quantity order or are buying on behalf of the public or private sector then please contact one of our designated account managers who will be able to deal with your requirements in more detail.
For any queries you may have please contact one of our experienced Memory Specialists via one of the following methods and they will ensure that any issue is resolved immediately and effectively.
Why buy from offtek
Matched Ram upgrades for your specific modelOfftek provides matched upgrades for new and legacy machines. Every one of our RAM modules are tested to ensure that not only are they compatible with the machine but also that they perform in a wide range of different environmental conditions. This allows us to back our modules with a limited lifetime warranty.
Established in 1996, OFFTEK is trusted by many of the UK's best known household names as their number ONE source for ram upgrades.
Misson critical or movie night we have your upgrade sortedOur team is made up of memory specialists with an average of 9 years experience in the RAM industry. We offer upgrades for not only the latest machines on the market but just as important those legacy machines that you need to keep running.
RAM is extremely important in ensuring your machine operates at its optimum performance. Our upgrades ensure that your computer will be performing at its best for years to come.
Fast Free UKDelivery
Over 500,000Happy Customers
Technical Staff With Over 9years of experience
60 Day Money BackGuarantee
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Technical Staff with Over 9 years of experienceWe have dedicated and highly trained experts with an average of 9 years experience. They are here to help you from purchase through to installation. We use a number of contact methods so you can speak to one of our specialists with ease.
Fast Free UK DeliveryWe offer FAST FREE UK Delivery on all orders with 96% of orders dispatched same day. For those that cannot wait we also offer faster delivery options including next day.
60 Day Money Back GuaranteeNot 100% happy with your order then return it to us under our No Quibble 60 Day Money Back Guarantee. Worried you might have made the wrong choice? With our no quibble return policy you can send it back to us and get a full refund up to 60 days after you've received your order. Whether you've picked the wrong product or just changed your mind you can send your order back to us and you'll get all your money back.
Twice Daily Price ChecksOur Price Promise commitment means that you can buy from us with confidence.
Our team works hard to ensure that you not only have peace of mind in the fact that the memory you order is 100% compatible but that our price is also the lowest for that product.
We check our prices daily against all our competitors to ensure that you are getting the best deal.
Experts On HandWe have dedicated and highly trained experts with an average of 7 years experience. They are here to help you from purchase through to installation. We use a number of contact methods so you can speak to one of our specialists with ease.
Limited Lifetime WarrantyFeel confident that your memory will last a lifetime. Our limited lifetime warranty guarantees that if your memory should ever fail we will replace or repair the product free of charge provided that it is still manufactured. Please note that the lifetime warranty refers only to memory modules and not flash memory or storage products. Please see the individual 'product details' for warranties specific to each product.
100% CompatibilityEvery memory product matched specifically to your machine is individually tested to guarantee reliability and 100% compatibility with your computer and operating system.
Online Since 1997Offtek has been supplying memory online since 1997 with over 500,000 happy customers. Well, maybe the odd one does'nt like us ;)
We have always been passionate about providing our customers with the tools and information to update their systems in the simplest manner. Early in 1996 we took on the challenge to find the type of memory compatible with every computer ever built. Hence our first memory configurator was born. Our constant daily updates allow our customers to easily select the correct memory for their machines and that objective is as important today as it was when the idea was first broached across a kitchen table in central Birmingham
Large Stock HoldingAs one the largest memory distributors in Europe, our large stock holding allows us to offer next day delivery on a wide range of products.
Environmentally FriendlyIf you have no need for your old memory after you have upgraded to one of our larger/faster modules, we will recycle this for you free of charge under the WEEE directive.
The advantages of adding more Ram Memory
Installing a memory module is one of the simplest upgrades that can be done to a computerThere is no configuration, no sitting around waiting for things to update and backup. It is simply plug and play! By adding more Ram memory into you laptop, desktop or server you will be doing the following:
- Improving the overall performance of the machine
- Allowing for increased multitasking
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- Producing faster boot times
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Guaranteed CompatibilityOver the years we have taken immense care in creating one of the most in depth memory configurators. We do this to ensure that when you purchase a memory upgrade from OFFTEK you are confident that the upgrade is 100% compatible with your system. Should you have any questions prior to ordering your upgrade we have technicians on hand via live chat, email or phone who will be able to answer any queries you may have.
We take the time to look into each machine to ensure that we offer all sizes and speeds that the machine is able to take not just the latest specification that has been released. We believe that offering all options for machines provides a 100% guarantee that the memory with function with your original memory module efficiently.


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Forgive me for my lack of posts:). Don't know why I feel the need to apologize, but there you have it.
You see, I'm a researcher by nature. I LOVE learning, growing, challenging the way I think, and moving forward.
Frankly, these past two weeks have been so hard, but so good. There is a lot churning around in this brain of mine. The Lord is challenging me like never before in the way I think, eat, and just plain ole' do life.
I want this blog to be real. A place that I can put whatever is stirring within me into words.
Well, I haven't had the words a lot of times these past few weeks. I've tried to put lots of this digging into words only to have written a sizeable novel by the time I'm done with it. Geez! Who wants to read that??
I get overwhelmed at the amount of information that is flooding my life- some God stuff, some good stuff, some downright awful stuff, some homesteading stuff, some false stuff, some sad stuff, some school stuff, some health stuff.
All of this "stuff" causes me to dig really deep in the things that are competing for my attention. I've discarded the things that don't matter and am clinging to the things that really truly do matter. That, my friend, is freeing!
But, every time I've sat down to write (and there have been many....you should see the posts that have began but not yet posted), I can sense the Lord just wanting me to "rest" in it for a while and let it truly sink in.
He wants me to put into action the revelation and words He is breathing into me.
My desire is to bring glory to God in everything I do. One thing is for certain....He is my Rock, my Fortress, my stronghold.
"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
Time is fleeting. Each day that goes by is one day closer to seeing the King of Kings- whether He comes back at any time or we go see Him.


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Fly with Croatia Airlines, take photographs and win two air tickets.
Be creative. In one sentence and a single photograph express why you love to travel. The winner will receive two Croatia Airlines international round-trip tickets.
Selection of the most original photograph will be made by the Croatia Airlines Promotional Department and the photograph will be published in the next issue of our inflight magazine.
Conditions for participation:


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On Slavery, Sectionalism, and the First and Second Party Systems
The "First Party System," according to Donald Grier Stephenson, pitted the Federalists (created by Alexander Hamilton and including John Adams, Fisher Ames, and John Marshall) against the Republicans or Antifederalists (created by Thomas Jefferson and including James Madison, Albert Gallatin, and Philip Freneau) and "took shape at the national level soon after government under the Constitution got under way in 1789." (1) Gerald Leonard points out that the Constitution was, by design, against parties, and so these first party-like-organizations were not "mass-based" but existed "more as parties in the government than as parties in the electorate." (2) They were, in effect, political cliques.
"In supporting or opposing policy proposals in Congress, members found themselves increasingly voting with the same group of colleagues on one side of an issue or the other. In turn, members sought reelection by defending their positions on legislation and so carried to the electorate the disputes that had divided Congress. Partisanship thus filtered down to the voters, leading them to associate one kind of policies with one group and different policies with another. The result was that congressional factions acquired local followings that duplicated congressional divisions." (3)
Until the early 19th century, the first party system focused on the issues surrounding political and economic structure. Federalists favored centralization and a strong national government that was more closed and elitist-based. They pushed for an active economic policy. Republicans championed more dominant state governments, openness, and thus less elitism.
With the election of Thomas Jefferson as president in 1800, Republicans replaced the Federalists as the dominant party. Jefferson expanded the powers of the president, reasserted a focus on states rights and agrarianism, and expanded the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. The Federalists gradually faded away as a credible political force and by 1820 could offer no candidate for the presidency. "Rivalry among Republican leaders for the presidency and the reemergence of major national policy issues marked the end of the first party system between 1810 and the mid-1820s."(4) The years between I8I6 and I824 saw a regression of sorts toward anti-partyism and the period "lacked major national issues of the intensity that had earlier sparked partisan combat. The period thus came to be called the ʻEra of Good Feeling.'"(5)
But economic developments in the 1820s caused a resurgence of interest among the populace in politics as they sought to influence their own circumstances through control of government. Southern fears of anti-slavery sentiments surged as the debate around the fate of Missouri's statehood galvanized many to take interest in the polls. Grass roots political energy began to emerge indicating a clear deathblow to The First Party System, which pushed policy from government down to the populace. This would no longer do.
Historian Michael Holt, who approaches the questions surrounding causation of the American Civil War from the angle of politics, posits that what makes a democratic republic like the United States work is a political structure that allows for discord on issues to be managed as a part of debate among varying points of view. (6) Constructive debate works best when there exist at least two political parties with elected officials who can, at the national, state, and local level, wrangle with the issues and make decisions that direct civic direction. Citizens can align with the party that best represents their perspective and interests. Choice between party platforms provides opportunity for change via regular elections.
A single party system does not facilitate competition between ideas. In fact, Holt suggests that the lack of a two party system can cause people to align around other identifiers such as the region in which they live. "Sectional antagonism was most marked, powerful, and dangerous precisely at those times when or in those places where two-party competition did not exist." (7) By contrast, these "sharp section lines often disappeared" when two parties were present effectively diffusing sectional antagonism. "When it persisted, party loyalties neutralized it so far as shaping political behavior. As many politicians recognized, in short, inter-party competition was an alternative to naked sectional conflict." (8)
Thus the ebb and flow in the severity of sectional conflict in America can be traced to the relative competitive strength or weakness of a two-party system. Holt suggests that two strong parties did not exist in the years between 1819 and 1821 when the decision of whether Missouri would be admitted to the union as a slave or free state was being considered. Sectional strife resulted. To prevent the sectional strife from fully permeating politics, "Martin Van Buren helped form the Jacksonian Democratic party in the 1820's specifically to revive a two-party system as a substitute for sectionalism. (9) The intent was to counteract feelings of sectional prejudices by encouraging party alignment. In this way, issues surrounding slavery contributed to the reemergence of strong parties, and thus "The Second American Party System." As the Second Party System emerged between 1824 and 1828, the Democratic-Republican Party split into the Jacksonian faction, which became the modern Democratic Party in the 1830s, and the Henry Clay faction, which was absorbed by Clay's Whig Party. Unlike the era of "The First American Party System," this period saw mass-based parties that could mobilize the electorate. Voters could thus feel empowered to effect change through suffrage. Sectionalism and thus many of the critical questions surrounding slavery were, once again, contained within the boundaries of political debate, at least for a time.
(1) Donald Grier Stephenson, Campaigns and the Court: The U.S. Supreme Court in Presidential Elections (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999), 27, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=111837005.
(2) Gerald Leonard, The Invention of Party Politics: Federalism, Popular Sovereignty, and Constitutional Development in Jacksonian Illinois (University of North Carolina Press, 2002)
(3) Stephenson, Campaigns and the Court: The U.S. Supreme Court in Presidential Elections, 27.
(4) Ibid., 28.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Michael F. Holt, The Political Crisis of the 1850s ( New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1983).
(7) Ibid., 6.
(8) Ibid., 6 – 7.
(9) Ibid., 7.
2 Responses
I saw from your sidebar that you were reading Holt's Political Crisis and was waiting for a reaction. Isn't it great?


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Round 2 of the ADAC German SX Championship is held in Eastern Germany in the booming metropolis of Chemnitz. Since this area has only been liberated for just over 20 years, remnants of the old Communist regime are still easily found. Shot out buildings and excessive graffiti line many roads, often with a brand new, modern building next door. And since this race is far from any large airports, sits in a fairly remote location and features weird dirt, it's generally the least regarded among the German rounds.
But after an always-chaotic round 1, things start to take shape at Chemnitz. The dirt has a very strange, almost oily texture. It still gets very rutty, but is also a bit slick. I have raced there many times, and I've never heard anyone compliment that particular combo. Consider it just another quirk of the series.
We didn't send a photographer to Chemnitz and even our reporter is really just one of the racers. So we'll have to use a Supercross photo of Bowers to illustrate the story.
Simon Cudby photo
Tyler Bowers won Friday night with a wire to wire performance. After an up and down opening weekend, he looked right at home in Chemnitz and was up front in almost every start both nights. With Bowers' years of arenacross experience, he knew what to do with a holeshot and cruised home to the victory. Points leader Florent "Franz" Richier finished a strong second and and Portugal's Joaquim Rodrigues (remember him?) grabbed the last podium spot. Yours' truly started in 11th and fought up to a disappointing 6th.
Saturday was more of the same. Bowers and Richier started up front and stayed there, but it was German upstart Dennis Ullrich taking the win on the KTM 2 stroke. I rounded the first lap in 10th after another stellar start and could only manage 4th by the checkers. Bowers took the overall with a 1-2 score accompanied by Richier and Ullrich rounding out the podium. At the halfway point, Richier leads the series followed by Bowers and Ullrich. I am sitting 5th and have some work to do! Next stop is the Bavarian capital of Munich December 20-21.
The track at Chemnitz.
Jason Thomas photo


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Searching in the Email Control Center
The Email Control Center has a search function to make it easier to find specific addresses. You can search a specific domain or all your domains.
To Search Your Domains
- In the Email Control Center, go to the Search tab.
- Select an option for the search parameters from the list.
- Enter the text you want to search for in the blank field.
- Select All Domains or a specific domain from the list.
- Click Search.


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Thats My Ticket
1983 NHL All-Star Game Mega Ticket - Islanders Host
Officially licensed by the NHL Mega Tickets are cutting-edge wall art. They are created from authentic game tickets enlarged 500% printed on archival canvas and professionally stretch-mounted. Perfect for autographs. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL EnterprisesL.P. e NHL 2011.All Rights Reserved. Overall Size: 11(W) x34(H) x0.75(D).
Availability: Usually ships within 5-7 business days.
Availability: Usually ships within 5-7 business days.


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During any type of environmental crisis, the very first consideration is people. Stationed at the MD Office and comprised of Councillors and municipal employees, the Emergency Operations Centre stood at the ready to alert residents of the approaching disaster. To those making phone calls or knocking on doors, there was a delicate balance at play: communicate the gravity and convey a sense of urgency, but remain calm and don't allow panic to take root.
Public response tends to vary when faced with something as unprecedented as a natural disaster, and on the weekend of May 14, communities within Lesser Slave River were no different. Some knew it was coming and had already begun to pack. Others doubted that a forest fire would reach their town unchecked. Many were oblivious to the event until they received a phone call from the MD (which by then had turned into the EOC). Before long, however, one only had to look to the sky to appreciate the magnitude of the situation.
"We saw a large black cloud and we thought 'this is something we've never seen before.' And then we saw fire dropping out of the sky."
Some communities in the paths of the looming fires were put on a two-hour evacuation notice, giving residents time to pack, prepare, steel themselves emotionally and wait. During this time frame, Sustainable Resource Development was working to establish a trigger point; a point at which the fires would become unmanageable and evacuation would become necessary. On Saturday, the first trigger point was reached, and at a second one at noon on Sunday. Each time, affected residents were forced to leave their homes and most of their belongings behind.
Facts & Figures
01 The Lesser Slave River wildfires caused one of the largest displacements of residents in Alberta's history.
02 Roughly 400 residents were evacuated from the MD of Lesser Slave River on the evening of May 14.
03 By noon on Sunday May 15, more than 1600 Lesser Slave residents were evacuated from the area.
04 In total, 732 families in the Lesser Slave River region lost their homes to the flames.
05 In the span of six days, the ARC rescued more than 300 animals left behind during the evacuation.
06 Collectively, the three mid-May wildfires consumed close to 22 thousand hectares, or the equivalent of 44 thousand football fields.
[powr-media-gallery label="2375809"]
Voices from the Front Line


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The entire list
Adnan Oktar Says...
A9 TV: February 1st, 2013
ADNAN OKTAR: What kind of a presidential system will it be? If it is a system that will divide Turkey as a federation or lead up to it there will be no votes for AK Party. Our people take up a position in such a referendum. However, if this model clearly reveals that it is more than a federation then it will be suitable.
A9 TV: December 24th, 2012
ADNAN OKTAR: Our Prime Minister is sincere. He wants everything being practically and quickly solved. However, establishing a presidential system is risky now. A federation model can be proposed afterwards. In this case, Turkey would be shattered. After all, the real thing behind proposing a federal system is to form an obstacle to prevent an Islamic Union from being established. This is a satanic project to prevent the way of the Mahdi. The same mentality is available in BOP (Big Middle East Project). BOP depends on an Islamic world that is shattered not becoming integrated. It defends dividing the countries – for example shattering Syria, Turkey or Iran - into small federal states and make Islamic Union impossible. The best thing for Muslims to avoid this kind of thing is transforming this project (BOP) into a Big Ottoman Project and unifying. Let them want an Islamic Union. This will bring happiness and beauty.
A9 TV: December 7th, 2012
ADNAN OKTAR: May Allah forbid, in case of any difficulty that may come up, the government belongs to all of us. We can change and correct it. I rely on our Prime Minister about this issue. He has asked people, "What do you really want?" We reply by saying, "We refuse and do not want this to happen." We have explained why we do not want a presidential system to govern. We do not want it at this stage. This is out of question at such a time for Turkey. But, can it be accepted after forming an Islamic Union? Yes, of course it can be accepted! We feel proud when the people elect the governor of their own town. In the times of an Islamic Union, everyone will embrace each other and there will be brotherhood, friendship and love prevailing. But right now communist movements are increasing . This is highly risky now.
March 11th 2013, Vatan
The government organized a survey asking the question; "Do you accept a presidential system?" The results report that 52 % of AK party's voters are standing up to this system.